A ribbon-cutting ceremony is scheduled for Aug. 15, when officials from the Los Gatos Union School District will dedicate the new Lexington Elementary School. It marks the end of a contentious quest by parents to provide a new school for mountain area students; the project was delayed several years by seismic concerns that pushed the school’s budget allocation to the limit.

But now the $24 million school is ready for the 160 students who are expected to show up for classes on Aug. 18.

The new school is two stories tall and has five buildings on four acres. The multi-purpose building has a dominant cedar exterior, while other buildings blend in with cedar accents that echo its mountain setting.

There are library and administration areas, and 14 classrooms, with some expected to do double duty as “flex rooms.” The school was designed so that it can accommodate up to 385 students, which means it has room to grow and can help ease overcrowding at the district’s other elementary schools.

This year’s anticipated enrollment at Blossom Hill Elementary is 660; Daves Avenue’s projection is for 568 students, Van Meter is at 665 and Fisher Middle School’s anticipated enrollment is 1,235.

That brings LGUSD enrollment to 3,288, or 31 more students than were enrolled in August 2013.

Enrollment at Los Gatos High School is expected to hit 1,866 students, up from last August’s enrollment of 1,814.

Members of the Los Gatos High School marching band have been practicing this week on the football field, as students streamed into the main school building to pick up class schedules in Wildcat orange envelopes.

“I’m looking forward to coming back to school because it’s always fun seeing friends again,” sophomore Jacob Snyder said. “I’m really looking forward to my AP European History and honors English classes.”

Jacob is also excited to return to the robotics program where he and his friends “build and play soccer-like games and battle each other.”

Snyder was hanging out Tuesday near the school’s back parking lot with sophomore Terrance Wang. “I just hung around this summer, so I was kind of bored,” Terrance said. “I’m looking forward to the school year.”

Sophomore Ben Tingle is in the New Tech High program that will use iPads this year to enhance the curriculum. “We use technology more than other classes,” Ben said. “We do a lot of projects. Last year, we made a biosphere and let plants grow in a bottle.”

While students, teachers and administrators appear to be ready for Monday’s back-to-school flurry, parents may need to reset alarms. And drivers should remember that many kids will be out on the streets, too, riding their scooters and bikes or walking through neighborhoods on their way to and from class.